Incident Record
Hiker died after more than 1,000 bee stings at Usery Mountain Park
Alex Bestler, a visitor from Louisiana, died after being stung over 1,000 times while hiking; responders reportedly had difficulty reaching him due to aggressive bees.
Record ID: AZ-MARICOPA-2016-0526
This record is part of a first-pass incident research dataset. Records, categories, and source notes may be updated as additional information is reviewed and verified.
Date5/26/2016
LocationMesa, AZ, Maricopa, AZ, United States
CountryUnited States
State / ProvinceAZ
Record TypeAttack / Stinging Incident
Trigger / ActivityOutdoor Recreation / Remote Exposure
SeverityHuman Fatality
Bee ID StatusSuspected Africanized
Aggression ClassificationHuman Fatality
Source Language
Incident Summary
Alex Bestler, a visitor from Louisiana, died after being stung over 1,000 times while hiking; responders reportedly had difficulty reaching him due to aggressive bees.
Public-Safety Lesson
Trail systems in AHB regions need explicit bee-safety warnings and emergency response plans.
Impact Flags
Human FatalityYes
Human HospitalizedYes
Animal FatalityNo
Responder InvolvedYes
Source Information
Source: ABC15 / Scripps News / Backpacker
Source Strength: B - Established News / Officials Quoted